Nottingham-based BAFTA winning film director Shane Meadows is to return to Channel 4 with a brand new series.

The Virtues stars Stephen Graham, who played Combo in Meadows' This is England film and subsequent Channel 4 TV spin-off series This Is England ’86, ’88 and ’90.

Stephen Graham as Combo in This Is England

The Boardwalk Empire actor plays Joseph, who finds himself compelled to travel to Ireland to confront the demons from a childhood spent in the care system that continue to haunt him - with savage and brutal consequences.

His path soon crosses that of Dinah, played by newcomer Niamh Algar (Without Name), who holds close a secret she’s hiding from all those around her.

Helen Behan, who also appeared in This is England ‘88 and ‘90, plays Joseph's sister Anna, separated since they were children.

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Meadows, who picked up the Best Film BAFTA in 2008 for This Is England, says: "It takes the biblical, almost apocalyptic levels of revenge witnessed in Dead Man’s Shoes, along with the bittersweet humour from This is England and creates a landscape like nothing else I've ever worked on.”

Beth Willis, Head of Drama at Channel 4, says: “We are so thrilled that the giant of a genius that is Shane Meadows has, with Mark Herbert chosen Channel 4 to be the home of his next extraordinary story, world and unforgettable characters. This tender love story is complex and at times dark - but always shot through with heart and a large dose of humour.”

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Written by Shane Meadows and BAFTA-winner Jack Thorne (This is England, ’86, ’88, ’90, National Treasure), The Virtues is directed by Meadows and produced by Mark Herbert (This Is England, ’86, ’88, ’90) and Nickie Sault (This Is England ’86, ’88, ’90).

The four-part drama will be shot on location in Sheffield, Liverpool and Belfast for broadcast in 2019.